I can't stop forgetting "+C" (integration)

krazie.x

Any help? I'm doin c4 atm and its always been an issue :frown:

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Reply 1

Ishraq Tarafdar

Haha, I have been having the same issue with this in C1... :L

Reply 2

krazie.x

It's very frustrating I tell, walking out of exams and then some1 asks did u guys remember +c and I'm like **** lol

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Reply 3

Robbie242

Original post by krazie.x

It's very frustrating I tell, walking out of exams and then some1 asks did u guys remember +c and I'm like **** lol

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There's no way you can find an alternate method to learn it, you just gotta remember its the constant of integration, so when limits aren't defined add it just for those marks

Reply 4

SnoochToTheBooch

For exams, what I would do for stuff I could never remember is that I'd read through it immediately before I went into the exam, then straight away (once the exam starts) I'd write out the stuff that I'd struggle to remember later on the back of the exam paper or whatever while it was still fresh in my mind. That way I could refer to it later when I was deep into the exam.

Reply 5

Venomilys

Whenever you caome across a question that might/will lead to integration write in big capitals "dont forget +c!!!!". That way when you check over your answers at the end you'll see the note and think oh yeah.

Samething with radians, see a pi sign and trig? Write at start "RADIANS!!!". You'll never have a problem now.

Reply 6

GottaLovePhysics! :)

Just remind yourself after the hours and hours you have put in to learn all the methords of integration, writing a "+C" is the easiest mark you will get in the whole exam.

Reply 7

POWCATTY

well...you know you always forget it, therefore its going to be the first thing you think about when these questions come up.
thats how i remembered a tonne of stuff...because i always forgot it lol

Reply 8

krisshP

Original post by krazie.x

Any help? I'm doin c4 atm and its always been an issue :frown:

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You could when doing an integration question first wite down +C next to the question,or even next to the next question. Then just do the integration process. After this just look back and you'll remember that you have to do the +C part.

Also when you finish the question, ask yourself if you have one everything. That way you'll remember about the +C part.

Reply 9

Plainview

Write '+C' on the inside of your eyelids.

Reply 10

dendodge

I have a post-it note on my bedroom wall above my desk that just reads "+C" in big block letters.

I always remember +C now, so I guess it worked :tongue:

Reply 11

Charlotte1995*

When you go into your exam write it on the first page of your paper, or on the last page so you see it at the end and remember to check. The more you practice the questions, you'll just remember to do it :smile:

Reply 12

Maid Marian

I've been doing that on C4 too :redface:

It's so annoying, I've never had a problem remembering it before :s-smilie:

Reply 13

Mark85

Just remember that an antiderivative of a function is another function whose derivative is the function you started with. Then, try to picture a graph of a simple function so you can picture its derivative by thinking of tangents to the curve and then picture shifting it up and down the y-axis and noting that the tangents are parallel.

I like to think of maths in programming terms in the sense that I always concentrate on the data type of any object I am dealing with. In this sense, when I think of 'indefinite integral' I think:

input - a function
output - a parameterised family of functions.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 14

krazie.x

Thanks guys, some really helpful ideas, will try them :smile:

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Reply 15

Kerch

I'm not sure if this will help you remember, but I think it's a useful concept.

Instead of:

\int x^2 dx = \frac{x^3}{3} + C

Write the integral as:

\int_{x_0}^{x} x'^2 dx' = \left[ \frac{x'^3}{3} \right]_{x_0}^{x} = \frac{x^3}{3} -\frac{x_0^3}{3} = \frac{x^3}{3} + \mathrm{Const.}

x'

is a 'dummy' variable of integration which doesn't appear in the final expression. You integrate from a constant lower limit to your desired variable as the upper limit,

x

.

These kind of integrals are often seen in practice, where the lower limit could be something like a reference state (if your variable were some thermodynamic quantity).

Reply 16

amg_22

Original post by krazie.x

Any help? I'm doin c4 atm and its always been an issue :frown:

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For the C4 exam you normally have to integrate between bounds so the +c bit isn't important (and by usually I mean 90% of the time, unless it is a part a question)